Has anyone had any hearing issues from using cpap? I have eustachian tube dysfunction and I wonder if the the pressure from the air might be affecting my inner ear or eustachian tubes. There are a few studies about this but I’d like to hear if anyone has had issues. Last night I noticed how cold the air was coming from my tube on my machine and then this morning I have issues with hearing my classical guitar–the too familiar thin, tinny sound in the upper registers.
I use a CPAP and have not had issues. I have seen this study which found that in rare cases a CPAP may result in elevated pressure in the middle ear. The advice I think basically is to see an ENT specialist. I have not noticed any issues with cold air from my CPAP. However I use a heated humidifier and heated hose.
One thing to keep in mind is that the pressure use by these devices is very low, in the range of 4 to 20 cm of water. I believe the variation in weather from a low pressure to high pressure condition is in the range of 35 cm of water. And when you fly I believe they let the cabin pressure drop up until 10,000 feet, before they hold it at that pressure. The drop in pressure (if my calculations are correct) is in the order of 300 cm of water. I guess the point is that CPAP pressures are quite low in relative terms.
FWIW CPAP machines are capable up to 25cm.
I’ve been using my CPAP for over 7 years now. Mine is set for BiPap. When 1st diagnosed, my setting were 21 / 15. 21cm during inhalation and 15 cm during exhale.
After losing a significant amount of weight (82lbs), my settings are now 14.8 / 10.8
Never had any issues with hearing as a result of using CPAP. I concur that you should consult your ENT for a proper diagnosis.
Yes, you were up in the BiPap machine levels of pressure. Now that you have lost weight, another thing you might want to consider is eliminating the IPAP to EPAP split in pressure. It doesn’t work for everybody, but I was running with 15/12 for IPAP/EPAP pressures in Auto. I switched (after lots of testing) to a fixed CPAP pressure of 11 cm. I believe the reason that this can work is that we are just as likely to have an apnea event on exhale as on inhale. That means with a 14.8/10.8 split the effective pressure that is preventing obstructive apnea is the 10.8 cm. I find the 11 cm more comfortable and it is much easier to keep the mask from leaking compared to 15 cm.
I have apnea and have been using a CPAP for 10 years with great results. I recently started using hearing aides as I have been diagnosed with mild hearing loss. The only “issue” I ever have with the CPAP pressure is that I occasionally have to clear a eustachian tube to equalize pressures - just like I do when I drive down a nearby hill and nothing like the levels experienced when I fly - which is frequently.
If you have apnea and hearing loss then why not treat both?
And the good news about having a hearing loss and using a CPAP, is that it makes the CPAP machine and mask exhaust sound much quieter when you are in bed without aids. There is an upside to hearing loss after all!
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Granted, but modern CPAP machines have gotten pretty quiet and seem to be continuing to improve. My wife is pretty sensitive to noise and hasn’t been bothered by mine at all. Admittedly my pressures are pretty low so that likely helps.
The machines are pretty good at about 25 dB for noise. The masks are more likely a problem, as they are closer to your ears. The quietest I have found is the ResMed P10. It has an excellent diffuser on the mask vent to greatly reduce noise. Unfortunately it has really poor headgear. My solution was to replace the headgear from that used on the ResMed Swift FX. It is much better. Can’t use the Swift FX mask though as it has a mask exhaust that must have been designed by Boeing. Like a jet plane taking off.
I use the P10 also. Headgear is less than ideal but I can improve them a bit by washing in very hot water and also using the adjustment clips. They have a new N30 that I’m curious about but haven’t tried.
We are well off topic, but here is my solution to the P10 Headgear problem.
I have not tried the newer masks. In the my apnea forum some have complained about the noise from the masks that direct air down through the two tubes on the side of the face. Another I recall found the silicone nasal fitting to be more irritating than the gel ones on some masks. But, I am in the boat that it took me a long time to get something that works, and will be very reluctant to try something else.